We hit the ground running with the slightly uncouth comparison of this Enterprise episode to online adult entertainment is floated. The acting is hammy and unsophisticated. The plot is existent, but ultimately irrelevant because it doesn’t involve the main, regular universe or its goings-on, and to continue with the adult entertainment metaphor, the women’s wardrobe leaves little to the imagination and a lot to be desired. The most expensive added element to executing new-fangled characters is, to be certain, Archer’s hair.
It’s quickly established this episode is not a genuine episode, but it isn’t too far off. The Tholians and their technology play are interesting in their lack of humanoid features. They require exotic conditions to survive and their technology is completely novel. Check and check. But their involvement is far too brief and peripheral to be applicable to our rock-steady criteria.
“In a Mirror Darkly” Synopsis:
The Mirror Universe crew is at war with rebels of the Empire when they discover the Tholians have captured a vessel from the future.
Part 1 – Netflix
After capturing a Constitution-class starship from the future, the evil Mirror Universe Capt. Archer attempts to become Emperor.
Part 2 – Netflix
The opening of the episode features clips from the film Star Trek: First Contact, which was jarring but ultimately necessary to carry out the plot. It might’ve been better had they recreated the clips in the Enterprise aesthetic rather than cutting between the movie shots and the addendum shots. Overall, it was a clever way to introduce the concept of the Mirror Universe.
The construction and workings of the Mirror Universe seem to break down fairly quickly. It’s apparent that a Mirror character’s morals are entirely opposite to their prime counterpart’s. But that’s where it stops? Wouldn’t a smart person be dim? A blonde be brunette? A carnivore a vegan? But no, in this particular universe only morals and subtle acting are affected.
We hypothesize why this two-parter could be formulated and dropped as the penultimate episode(s) to the series. Perhaps there was a plan for the Mirror Universe Enterprise crew to be the long arc of the subsequent season, the writers unaware the show was to be cancelled.
